Manual versus Autofocus

I have a 50D with 24-70L lens, rented a Zeiss 35mm f2 this weekend and shot using manual focus both on the Zeiss and the Canon. This is a great discovery, so here is a strong thesis:

As long as one is not shooting moving objects, manual focus using an EF-S screen and the 5X or 10X magnification on the Liveview, is always sharper than autofocus, no matter how well you have microadjusted your lens to camera.

Flipping the little switch from AF to MF will avoid all the posts wondering if a particular picture is sharp enough, since every photo is just as sharp as the eye that focused it. The eye that can't see to focus sharply will also not notice any lack of sharpness in the final result.

hvulpus wrote in post #11178231
I have a 50D with 24-70L lens, rented a Zeiss 35mm f2 this weekend and shot using manual focus both on the Zeiss and the Canon. This is a great discovery, so here is a strong thesis:

As long as one is not shooting moving objects, manual focus using an EF-S screen and the 5X or 10X magnification on the Liveview, is always sharper than autofocus, no matter how well you have microadjusted your lens to camera.

Flipping the little switch from AF to MF will avoid all the posts wondering if a particular picture is sharp enough, since every photo is just as sharp as the eye that focused it. The eye that can't see to focus sharply will also not notice any lack of sharpness in the final result.

I'd like to hear opinions on this from others. I haven't shot much in manual focus. Am I missing something here?

I shoot manual focus with live view zoomed to 10x all the time...but then I shoot landscapes. For most other things, I use the viewfinder with about 50/50 split between autofocus or manual focus. I too have the EF-S screens on my 5DII which helps a lot when manually focusing.

As a side, if you are going to use liveview, you don't need the EF-S screen.

Does any one shoot MF with the beeping assistant? I do that when I tried out MF.

If I'm shooting on a tripod, I use manual focus in live view mode almost exclusively. Occasionally I'll use AF with ND filters, when live view won't simulate exposure, with so-so results. Otherwise it's AF only, my eyes are too bad to confirm focus in an APS-C viewfinder -- especially one covered in dust Too bad live view wastes so much battery power.

I don't think I'd ever buy a non TS-E MF lens unless I upgraded to full frame.

I was having some issues with my new sig 30 1.4 so I switcded to manual for the first time. That sigma is driving me nuts. The first one I had didn't act so inconsistent. I'm closer in focus most of the time with manual focus through the viewfinder than the lens is in auto. I had a hard time micro adjusting the sigma because it was inconsistent. I'm gonna send it back. BTW, I ordered a Zeiss 35 F2 and will give it a go for a while.

I want to know how you liked the 35 F2 on you're crop. How did it compare to the 24-70?

FreezingRose wrote in post #11178304
Does any one shoot MF with the beeping assistant? I do that when I tried out MF.

If you depend on the camera to beep (or blink) for you then it's no different than just using auto focus. If you are using a MF-only lens then you don't have a choice, obviously.

I did try the auto-bleep, but I felt that I kept overshooting the moment of bleep, so went to straight manual focus.

is there something similar to the EF-S screen for the T2i? I have heard of the Kateyez screen. Is this the best option?

hvulpus wrote in post #11178231
I have a 50D with 24-70L lens, rented a Zeiss 35mm f2 this weekend and shot using manual focus both on the Zeiss and the Canon. This is a great discovery, so here is a strong thesis:

As long as one is not shooting moving objects, manual focus using an EF-S screen and the 5X or 10X magnification on the Liveview, is always sharper than autofocus, no matter how well you have microadjusted your lens to camera.

Flipping the little switch from AF to MF will avoid all the posts wondering if a particular picture is sharp enough, since every photo is just as sharp as the eye that focused it. The eye that can't see to focus sharply will also not notice any lack of sharpness in the final result.

It depends.

Yes, EF-S screen definitely helps with manual focusing but can't guarantee it's going to be sharper than auto-focusing. It really lies with the photographer's ability to focus correctly through the viewfinder.
Assuming you have very good eye sight, you can focus fairly well with the EF-S screen, I would say as good as auto-focusing.. but I won't say better.

If you're using live view, I would say you have a much better chance of getting sharper image than auto-focus.

I disagree in part with the last statement though... eye may not be able to focus correctly through the viewfinder, but you can tell much better when the image is produced as a full size image.
If using live view, then I would agree to some extent.

I have the 35/2 on the 5Dc so no live view here. I also have the EE-S screen but I went back to the EG-S screen (standard) as I preferred it and am able to MF to a fairly high degree of preceision. However I do have pretty good eyesight so that goes a long way to making it easier. Even so, after an hour or so of shooting, I can feel the strain on my eye. The thing that most p**ses me off though is when I accidently knock the dioptre a single click - its noticeable but not enough to make me check it immediately - I just think its my eyes are getting tired.....

I personally have the beep enabled but I also dont trust it implicitly so always confirm with my eyes. My method is to usually adjust focus until the beep goes off then "rock" the focus back-and-forth over the focus point until I'm happy its in the middle. I dont really look for the sharpest point, I generally look for the "middle" point between the front blur and back blur. Sometimes (depending on subject) there will be a strange pattern that is present on the focus plain. If its present, I always use that because it is always the most accurate.

My method doesnt work well on AF lenses. I thought the Canon 100 L had a good focus ring...until I tried the zeiss 35 (and then the 100MP but thats a different story). I just cant seem to get precise enough movements on the Canon rings - its definitely do-able but it seems a little more out of my control.

Would I prefer AF - I honestly dont think so now. I like having to perform all the effort, setting up and continuous thinking about my shots - makes me feel more involved in the process so once I press the shutter, I know I've worked for that image and not just pressed a button - but thats me. Also, MF doesnt restrict me too much as I only do landscapes and hardly ever.... actually never do people, sports or wildlife.

The only AF lenses I have left are the 24-105 and 70-300.....both are packed ready for eBay...to fund a MF Zeiss 21.....

sangjiny wrote in post #11178729
It depends.

Yes, EF-S screen definitely helps with manual focusing but can't guarantee it's going to be sharper than auto-focusing. It really lies with the photographer's ability to focus correctly through the viewfinder.
Assuming you have very good eye sight, you can focus fairly well with the EF-S screen, I would say as good as auto-focusing.. but I won't say better.

If you're using live view, I would say you have a much better chance of getting sharper image than auto-focus.

I disagree in part with the last statement though... eye may not be able to focus correctly through the viewfinder, but you can tell much better when the image is produced as a full size image.
If using live view, then I would agree to some extent.

I thought the 5D's take EG-S screens? The Ef-S is a 1.6x crop focusing screen for the 40D and 30Ds.

JPM Photography wrote in post #11178574
is there something similar to the EF-S screen for the T2i? I have heard of the Kateyez screen. Is this the best option?

I bought a KatzEye screen for my 50D. I still had my old FD 300 f/2.8, and manual focusing on the original matte screen was tough. The KatzEye screen was a hundred bucks, but has a very nice split microprism that works extremely well. Changing the screen takes like 2 seconds. My only remaining MF lens is my 500mm Canon f/8 reflex, and while it's a slow lens, it focuses quite well with the KatzEye screen. As with all split microprism screens, half the circle gets fairly dark when used with lenses stopped down past f/5.6. However, as all the EF lenses focus wide open, it's a real help for manual focus. I like it, a lot!

richardfox wrote in post #11180832
I bought a KatzEye screen for my 50D. I still had my old FD 300 f/2.8, and manual focusing on the original matte screen was tough. The KatzEye screen was a hundred bucks, but has a very nice split microprism that works extremely well. Changing the screen takes like 2 seconds. My only remaining MF lens is my 500mm Canon f/8 reflex, and while it's a slow lens, it focuses quite well with the KatzEye screen. As with all split microprism screens, half the circle gets fairly dark when used with lenses stopped down past f/5.6. However, as all the EF lenses focus wide open, it's a real help for manual focus. I like it, a lot!

Cool. I think I might look into getting it!
Thanks for the info!

krb wrote in post #11178398
If you depend on the camera to beep (or blink) for you then it's no different than just using auto focus. If you are using a MF-only lens then you don't have a choice, obviously.

Actually, you do. Just chip it yourself.

Upside:
Focus confirmation. You can even microadjust it.

Downside:
A programmed aperture will effect metering negatively at all other used aperture settings. IE under/over exposure depending on value distance from preset/programmed.